Judge Slashes Doctor`s Lawsuit Award

A Palm Beach County judge has reduced by more than a third a jury`s award of $4.3 million to a doctor who claimed he was wrongly deprived of his job at the Lake Hospital of the Palm Beaches.

Norman Silversmith should not get more than $2.66 million, Circuit Judge James Minnet ruled after a hearing earlier this week.

Silversmith was denied the right to admit patients to the Lake Worth psychiatric hospital after he reported poor hospital conditions to the press and to the Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services. He sued the hospital, its two chief administrators and the corporations of which it is a part.

The jury made its award after a 5 1/2-week trial that featured testimony from almost 50 witnesses and the introduction of almost 150 documents. The original award included $1.5 million to make up for Silversmith`s lost earnings and $2.85 million in punitive damages.

Minnet reduced the former to $1.16 million and the latter to $1.5 million. He also adjusted the proportion of punitive damages to be paid by the hospital and the corporations.

Silversmith`s attorney, Richard Schuler, was dismayed by the ruling.

``We`re disappointed because the jury spent a lot of time considering the case and making their determination,`` he said.

Earl Denney, attorney for the hospital and the corporations, said he was pleased by the judge`s decision but still hopes to have the verdict overturned outright.

What happens next is uncertain, Denney said. If Silversmith accepts the reduced award, the defendants could pay it or press their appeal. If the doctor rejects the award, a new trial could be held to determine damages.